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Non-urgent crime

Please pass any information regarding these incidents to
Essex Trading Standards on 01245 341888
or the Police on
01206 762212

Scam Archives

Please note the following and act accordingly. It would also help if you would please inform people in your area where possible.

This is intended for information only.
Apologies if you already know !!!

13.10.08

I went to see John Porter (post master at Hockley sorting office) regarding a new scam that may be emerging.Royal Mail operate an official 'Call & Collect' service whereby one can collect their own mail.Many people want this service if they move home, or need post before a certain time of the day, especially as these days you can't set your watch by the postman.It is set up by a simple application form, which can even be downloaded from the internet.The application is sent to Royal Mail who respond with a confirmation letter that the service will commence from XX date.The applicant then turns up at the depot with a passport and is given their mail.John Porter recently foiled one such attempt, as he knew by face the supposed applicant, but someone pretending to be him turned up.The handover was refused and the suspect left.This type of scam also happened recently in Rochford.

Particularly vulnerable people are those with externally fitted mail boxes. As this is part of the Identity theft problem, seems a good time to circulate this.

Sk TV Scam

Please beware of a scam that has just been brought to my attention by one of our Co-ordinators.

They received a phone call from someone saying they were Sky TV and were checking to see that they were happy with their package & service then they went on to say at the same time could we please check your bank details to update our files

As this Co-ordinator was on the ball they declined to give the information and phoned SKY TV who informed them that they had made no such phone calls and indeed would never ask you for your bank details

You have been warned if in doubt put the phone down and call SKY TV direct and double check this Co-ordinator has had a lucky escape

PARCEL SCAM: MP warns of Christmas scam

Brian Donohoe, Labour MP for Central Ayrshire, has asked Gallery News to
circulate a warning to Members and their staff of a scam that could cost
them - particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

Mr Donohoe said the Royal Mail and the Trading Standards Office were
making people aware of the scam which was being investigated by watchdog
ICTIS.

Mr Donohoe says the scam works like this:

" A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel
Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel
and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a premium rate
number).

" DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from
Belize. If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message
you will already have been billed £15 for the phone call.

" If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal
Mail Fraud or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator)
at http://www.icstis.org.uk/ or your local trading standards office.

Thanks to Bob Russell MP for passing this on to us